Destiny's Detour

by Mari Brown

  Our school played in the championship game in January. It was a tough game but it was the best game I have ever seen our school play. When it was over, we were number one in the nation, and my husband was named MVP. That game completely changed our way of life. Suddenly reporters started knocking at our door and calling on the phone non-stop. My husband became the national icon of college football and it didn’t stop there. We even began getting offers for our son to star in commercials. It was a way around the rules that stated Troy couldn’t do endorsements while in college. Everything was just insane. Did I mention my husband was also the Heisman trophy winner? I was so very proud of him. I mean, I was the only one who could say her husband was this year’s Heisman trophy winner and MVP of the national Championship. David was like a kid in a candy shop.

  “My best friend is a celebrity” and other stupid things often came out of his mouth.

  The worse part for me was the girls that began stalking my husband. They didn’t care that he was married or had a child. I would be standing right next to him, and they would still throw themselves at him. Troy is a good man though, and he always turned them down. He would pull me closer to him, and most of the time they would get the hint. It was still a very frustrating time for me. Thankfully, I am a very secure woman or it would have been hell to go through. I could call my mom who went through this herself, and talk to her about what is going on.

  I am so busy reflecting on the last four months that I have stopped working on my makeup. Once again, I sit at my vanity making myself beautiful. Why? Well, tonight is the NFL draft, and my husband and brother are both up for selection on the first night. My worst fear is still them winding up on rival teams. I know I need to finish getting ready, because David and Troy are waiting in the living room for me. Amy is taking care of Mason for us so that I won’t worry about him tonight.

  I finally am dressed and walk into the living room to greet my family. Troy stops talking as soon as he sees me. He just stares at me, hunger taking over his eyes. I can sense the nervous anticipation coming off both my husband and brother as we are heading out to determine their future in football. I am not sure why they are so nervous. Both are guaranteed to be picked.

  We say our goodbyes to Amy and Mason and walk outside to the waiting limo. My parents and Troy’s parents will be meeting us at the venue. As the three of us ride to the draft, we talk about how life is about to change for all of us. I know that I am ready to follow wherever Troy goes. There is no doubt in my mind. The guys talk a little about how they don’t want to wind up playing each other on the field, and I listen to them as they reminisce about all the years they have played together. After all, they have played together since they were 5 years old, and they joined Little Pop Warner at the same time. They have had 16 years playing together on the field, and it will be a shame to break them apart because they work well together. The two together is what makes them unstoppable.

  Our driver pulls to a stop and I glance out the window. Reporters and the fans line both sides of the walkway. Our driver opens the door, and my brother steps out, followed by Troy. Troy then reaches for my hand and gently helps me out of the back of the limo. Our arms link, and my brother moves to my other side so I can link arms with him, too.

  "I love you both so much. You are both going to be great. Relax, you got this," I whisper as I squeeze both their arms.

  David needs me just as much as Troy does tonight, and I am honored to be there for both of them. We walk to the doorway with big smiles on our faces, posing for some photos as we know we should. You can tell we are kids that are no strangers to the limelight. Entering the building, we are greeted by a waiter who takes the guys’ names and escorts us to our table. I see our moms sitting at the table, as we get closer.

  The whole building zings with excitement and nerves. I see guys who are walking around with their parents and coaches, some looking scared shitless, others cocky. The main room is set up in a simple black and white theme with round tables that seat 8 people.

  After I am seated, I ask, “Where are the dads?”

  I receive a small laugh from my mom as she says, “They are working the crowd, my dear.” And she gestures widely with her hand around the room. I follow the general direction she motions and see both of them talking to a coach for the Baltimore Ravens.

  This place is full of NFL big names and the hopeful. Many of the guys up for the draft have the same look on their faces. It is a cross between scared shitless and pure bliss at being there. A few are confident, well, at least on the outside. They might be a bundle of nerves on the inside, for all I know.

  A signal is given and we are all asked to begin taking our seats, as the draft will start in 30 minutes. I watch the room as everyone begins walking to their respective tables. The dads come back to our table and eagerly talk with one another about the buzz in the room. Troy sits down beside me, and David takes my other side. Both of them are getting more anxious. I quietly slip my hand down and rest it on Troy’s thigh, and some of the tension in his body releases. I lean over and kiss my brother on the cheek.

  “That is for luck, and I love you, big brother.”

  He leans a bit closer to me. “I love you too, little sister.”

  As I straighten back up in my seat, Troy’s hand comes to rest on top of mine and entangles our fingers. I lean over to him, quickly brush my lips over his, and whisper, “I love you, and I am ready for whatever tonight means for you and our family. I will follow you where ever you go.”

  Troy turns to face me and gives me the sweetest smile as he squeezes my hand, letting me know how much my words mean to him.

  The NFL commissioner is the first to speak after a welcome by the MC for the night. We listen to a twenty-minute speech from the commissioner before he declares the draft officially open. You can feel the current of excitement flowing through the room. The fun has begun.

  The Nevada Wolves, a new franchise in the NFL, is the first to pick. My nerves flow as I wonder if my husband will be the first pick in the draft. He has the record for it; he has the skill for it. I am so lost in my thoughts that I miss the Nevada team owner and coach making their way to the microphone. They get the items ready for their first pick. I feel like my heart stops.

  Then these words come out of the MC's mouth. “The Nevada Wolves pick quarterback Troy Daniels as the first pick of the first round.”

  I am frozen. My husband is the top pick of the draft. Our eyes meet a second before our mouths crash together. All too soon, he pulls away to stand and visit the rest of our family. My brother, parents, and his parents all congratulate him. I am still sitting there a little stunned. I am happy, maybe even ecstatic that Troy has been selected for this team. He and David have both been interested in this team. They like that the franchise is only a year old and see lots of possibility with a new team like that. I glance to my in-laws, and see the pride and love for their son. Both of my in-laws have tears in their eyes. I turn to my parents who also have tears in their eyes and I can see the pride and love they feel for Troy. I know I have to look at David but I am not sure I can. I am afraid of what I might see. However, he beams from ear to ear and tears pool in his eyes for his best friend and brother-in-law.

  I lose it and begin sobbing. I try to be quiet about it, but it is like a ton of emotions hit me all at once. All of the family looks at me. I give a half-hearted grin and try to speak, but I can’t stop sobbing. Then a feeling of panic washes over me. I have only felt like this one other time in my life. I am completely floored by the thought slamming me at the exact moment my husband accepts his team jersey from the Wolves. I need an answer now. There is no way I can wait to find out for sure. I pull my phone out, send a text to Amy, and tell her what I need. She promises to go get it and text me as soon as she and Mason pull up in front of the building.

  Talking to Amy and knowing she is going to help me out calms me down some.

  Troy makes his way back toward our table, stopping for congratulations
along the way. As he sits back down, he leans in and gives me another kiss. “Looks like we’re moving to Vegas, Princess.”

  I smile at him. “Can we live at the Palms?”

  He laughs at me for asking that.

  Ever since we stayed there for our anniversary, I have joked that I want to live at the Palms. It has everything I need in one location. As we whisper to each other, I notice my mother looking at me. She gives me that look only a mother gets, the one that says I know something is going on. The draft continues and I hate that David is still sitting by me after 10 more picks. He should go in the first round and pretty high up. What is going on? Suddenly, I hear an announcement that the Wolves are up again and have traded picks in next year’s draft to get this pick and blah, blah, blah. Our table goes silent and the tension grows thick. I think we may have all stopped breathing.

  It is almost as if I am hearing through a fog, but I hear them announce, “David Williams has been selected by the Nevada Wolves.”

  Our table goes crazy. This is a dream for all of us sitting here. Troy and David will not be split up. They will play together as rookies for the same team. My emotions go haywire again and tears pour out as I hug my brother. I let go of him so he can move to the stage.

  My husband pulls me and I land in his lap, his breath caressing my ear. “Princess, what is wrong with you? You’re not acting normal.”

  I cuddle into him and whisper, “I don’t know.”

  We listen to my brother on stage and finally he begins moving back to our table.

  I get the text that Amy is waiting out front. I excuse myself from the table, and run out the door to meet Amy at the window. She throws me a bag and I walk back in and head straight to the bathroom. To those in the lobby, I probably look like a crazed woman, but I don’t care. I open the package and make sure to read the directions. I don’t want to make a mistake right now. I wait until the test is finally done, and look down at the little stick in my hand. I throw the trash away and wash my hands. I need to get back to the table before someone comes looking for me.

  I sit back down and try to act as if I didn’t just rush out of the room in a panic. I can sense Troy looking at me and I know I can’t wait.

  I lean over to him “So um, you want some more big news?”

  He gives me a look as if to say what are you talking about, but nods his head yes.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  He stiffens in his seat as a grin overtakes his face. Then he gives me the biggest kiss that catches the attention of everyone at the table. As we break apart, our parents and my brother are looking at us strangely. Troy has this big goofy grin on his face and I am blushing with a small grin of my own.

  My mother finally asks, “Do you have something you would like to share with the rest of us? I mean, we all just witnessed a make out session in the middle of the Draft, and I think it had nothing to do with football.”

  I look at Troy, then back at our families, and blurt out, “I am pregnant … again!”

  There is a moment of silence. Everyone just keeps staring at Troy and me. After a moment, the table breaks into excited chatter.

  It’s been two months since the NFL draft and things have been crazy. Troy and I have made make several trips out to Las Vegas so they can work on his contract, and have begun house hunting. The house hunting is not happening as quickly as I would like. David has come along with us on these trips. We have talked and he has decided to stay with us for a while, even after we find the house we want. It just makes sense. Until we can find said house, we will be living at the Palms. I am thrilled. Of course, I will have Mason and be 12 weeks pregnant with baby number two, but it’s all good.

  In less than two weeks, we will make the move to Vegas. Amy has finally decided that she coming with us to visit for a while. She wants to stay and not be left behind. I make it clear to her that she will be welcome, but leave it up to her to decide. It is, after all, her life.

  Time is moving too fast again for me. Mason’s first birthday is this week and our moms have arranged a huge party for him at a local country club. Mason’s first birthday is going to be nothing but football players, our friends, and family. The football team from school would have been offended if we didn’t invite them. Mason has been their little mascot all year, and those guys are going to miss him. I am, in my own way, going to miss them, too. Even though we will be part of a new team in Vegas, it’s a little different in the pros.

  Troy has a five-year contract for $20 million. He will receive an $8 million signing bonus. Then the endorsement deals start pouring in. We decide that I will stay at home with Mason and the baby to come. We hire a nanny to help me. In addition to Troy’s agent, we also hire a personal assistant to help us stay on top of everything we need to do. Suddenly, we have gone from rich to super rich. Thanks to our fathers, we have always had money. We both have trust funds that we received when we turned eighteen that we could live off of the rest of our lives. We have never worried for anything money-wise.

  I am emotional because of the pregnancy already, and as Mason’s birthday approaches, I am a wreck and can’t stop crying. Troy is trying really hard to soothe me. It does help when he holds me, but I can’t just sit in his arms all day. My mother comes bustling into our home and sees me, tears pouring and sitting in Troy’s lap. She gives me a knowing smile.

  “Baby Girl, your hormones are out of control.” She sits down beside us and pats my leg.

  “Where is my birthday boy?” Troy answers, “He’s still napping. We wanted to make sure he gets a good nap before his party.”

  My mom speaks, “Well, I’ll wait for him to wake up and get him dressed for his party. Take your wife, help her shower, and dress for the party. She needs her man right now.”

  Troy gets up, gently scoops me in his arms, and walks back to our bedroom. He sets me down once inside, closes the bedroom door, and locks it. He comes toward me with a predatory look on his face. I start backing up from him. I can’t move anymore because he has backed me up against a wall, his arms on either side of me, trapping me effectively.

  “Princess, do you know what it does to me when I see you like this?”

  I shake my head no.

  “You drive me crazy. It makes me want to take you and show you just how much you mean to me. I can’t get enough of you. You are like a strong addiction. One that I don’t want to get rid of.”

  I gulp. My core becomes moist and a throbbing need starts between my legs.

  “You want me, too, don’t you, Princess?”

  I can’t speak; I just nod my head as his lips crash into mine. We attack each other with these kisses, fighting for dominance. I let him take over and completely control everything. I am weak and my legs have turned to jelly. His hands grip my butt hard, lifting me up and I quickly wrap my legs around his waist as my hands snake around his neck. Once he has my back pressed up against the wall, his hands begin roaming my body, trailing across my stomach and up to my breast to cup them with tenderness. My core throbs more. I want him to touch every inch of me. I am just as addicted to him as he is to me. There is no denying it. I don’t want to anyway.

  Two hours later, I sit at my vanity, putting on the finishing touches of makeup, and reflect on the time Troy has spent showing me just how much he loves me. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me so much. I know that, without a doubt, my husband loves me as much as I love him. As I turn to get up, I notice Troy sitting on the bed in low-slung jeans and a vintage t-shirt, looking like a sexy devil. He has been watching me this whole time with complete adoration on his face. He is so open to showing me just what he feels. I move toward the closet and pull out a sundress to slip on for the party. As I make my way out, smoothing down the folds of my dress, I bump into a brick wall. Well really, it is my husband’s hard body but same difference. He takes me into his arms and gives me yet another tender kiss.

  “I love you, Princess,” he whispers.

  We walk back into
the living room hand in hand and my mother looks up at us and smile.

  “I see my baby feels better.”

  A slight heat rises to my cheeks. My mom knows what she sent Troy in there to do with me, and in a way, it is embarrassing. It isn’t something you normally want your mother to know. She has Mason in her arms, dressed and ready to go, and even has packed his diaper bag.

  Troy takes Mason from my mom and walks out to place him in the car. My mom and I walk out together.

  “Destiny, remember, I know what it’s like to be pregnant. I am so happy that Troy treats you the way he does. I have always known he loves you, but every time I see y’all together, I see just how much more he falls in love with you. Treasure him, Baby.”

  “I do, Mom. I can’t imagine a life without Troy. He means so much to me.”

  The country club is already packed when we arrive. Our families and friends are waiting for Mason. After all, he is the guest of honor. I lose track of my son as he is passed from person to person. Not only is this Mason’s birthday party, but it will also be the last time all of us will be together like this. This is the end of college life for Troy and me. We are moving on to the real world.

  My mom has us move to the front table. Mason holds my dad’s hand and walks toward us. After Mason is in his high chair, Troy and I sit on either side of him. A huge cake is brought out, candles are lit, and the crowd begins to sing happy birthday. Mason enjoys being the center of attention. Soon a small cake is brought out as well. Troy and I help Mason blow out his candle and then the small cake is placed in front of him. It is an instant mess. I laugh until I cry watching Mason play in that little cake. It is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

  I look out across the room and see all the smiling faces of friends that I have met in school and can’t help but feel a little sad that another chapter of my life is ending. I am no longer Destiny Williams, college girl. I am now Destiny Daniels, wife and mother. I am an adult. It hits me hard at this moment. I am not sure when it happened, but somewhere in the last two years, I have gone from teenager to adult without realizing it. While there is some sadness in recognizing this, there is also joy and so much more. I am eager to see what life in Vegas will be like for Troy and me. I can’t wait for the new chapter to begin.